TRAVELPHOTOBOX

The Hollywood Sign is one of Los Angeles 's most famous icons. It stands on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills . The best way to see the landmark is to hike from the Griffith Observatory . 📌 The sign was originally erected in 1923 to promote a housing development called Hollywoodland. Each letter is 45 feet tall and painted white. We left the car in the paid parking near the Griffith Observatory . The starting point is located at the bottom of Mount Hollywood Drive . This paved road is closed to vehicles and begins from an intersection near Griffith Observatory where Western Canyon Road and West Observatory Road meet. From that point, we hiked about two miles until we reached the Mulholland Fire Road on our left. We continued along Mulholland, with intermittent side views of the Hollywood Sign , until the trail hits Mount Lee Drive . The last part of the route follows a paved road to reach the summit of Mount Lee , directly behind the Hollywood Sign . A tall chain-l...

The San Diego Zoo is one of the most prestigious zoos in the world and is one of the largest in the USA. It is situated in Downtown San Diego . Since 1916 it has housed some of the most exotic animals and plants on the planet. More than 3,700 animals from 650 species are showcased in nine diverse animal zones. This zoo is huge , so you probably won't be able to see all of it in one day. It’s a good idea to prioritize what you want to see and do. All the zoo is organized into animal areas , featuring lions, monkeys, pandas, elephants, reptiles and marine life. Several trails connect them and all are marked with their distance, time and level of difficulty. The zoo is a unique walking experience where you can observe animals in spacious enclosures that replicate their natural habitats. The park also boasts a botanical collection of more than 700,000  exotic plants . 👍💗  Our recommendation! The Polar Bear Plunge is one of the most impressive and interact...

The Aquarium of the Pacific is Southern California’s largest aquarium and a shore-side attraction in Long Beach . It is home to more than 500 species in 19 habitats and 32 focus exhibits. Large viewing windows provide visitors with an exceptional view of the voracious creatures in a natural habitat. The general admission gives you access to all of the aquarium’s galleries and exhibits, which focus on the creatures and the environment of the Pacific Ocean . ⭐⭐⭐  Highlights include sea otters, penguins and sea lions, and a touchable shark lagoon. A unique feature at the aquarium is the Lorikeet Forest containing more than 100 colorful lorikeets (Australian parrots). The Aquarium of the Pacific  has several interactive touch sections, where you could touch sharks, sting rays, jelly fish, star fish, anemones, etc. Information is readily available and volunteers are frequently nearby to provide educated responses to questions.  

The Catherine Chevalier Woods Forest Preserve is a 338-acre nature preserve along the Des Plaines River  greenway. This is one part of the Chicago area where a pedestrian-bicycle path system exists. It provides habitat for wildlife and plants, and provides the public with an opportunity to experience these habitats and to enjoy the outdoors. 🦌 🦌 🦌   A large population of deer lives in these woods. The Catherine Chevalier Woods Forest Preserve is a living legacy of the era in which Native Americans, French-Canadians, and Métis peoples were living in what would become Chicago . Des Plaines River Trail Des Plaines River Des Plaines River Trail

Catalina Island is a rocky island off the coast of Southern California in the Gulf of Santa Catalina . The island is 22 miles long and 8 miles across at its greatest width. The island is located about 22 miles south-southwest of Los Angeles. Catalina Express offers daily boat passage from San Pedro and Long Beach to Avalon and Two Harbors . We traveled from Long Beach to Avalon. 📌 Hiking Permits are required for your safety. They are free of charge and are available online or can be obtained at the Conservancy House, Nature Center, Airport in the Sky, and Two Harbors Visitor Information Center. There are a wide variety of trails on Catalina Island. We hiked the  Hermit Gulch Trail . The trailhead can be accessed via the Hermit Gulch Campground located at the top of Avalon Canyon , a 1.75 mile walk up the road from Avalon . This 1.7-mile long single trail climbs some 1,200 feet to a junction with East End Road . The effort is rewarded by expanding ocean views. ...

Getting to Catalina Island is fast and easy from Long Beach on the Catalina Express . It takes a little more than an hour   via high-speed ferry cross the Pacific. The ferry drops you in the town of Avalon , the main town on the island. 🏝️  Catalina Island is only 22 miles off the coast of Southern California.  The town of Avalon surrounds the beautiful Avalon Bay on the southeast end of Catalina Island . Avalon is home to many points of interest, including the Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Gardens , where we started our hiking route .